I'm A Dullahan, Looking For My Head Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The Headless Knight Adventurer: The Dullahan With No Head.

“Ah!?”

As I peer into the water’s surface, I'm so surprised I let out a strange cry that doesn't sound like my own voice.

Because there, something that would be called my own head is nowhere to be found.

It’s not like I have no hair or no eyes.

There is simply nothing above the neck.

“My, my head is... gone...”

I stop looking into the water and face away, then peer over once more.

Sure enough--there's no head.

“What the!? What in the world!?”

I thought I had died after being hit by a truck, then left in the forest in full-body armor.

And now, as I look into the water’s surface, my head is missing.

In a series of incomprehensible events, I shout as if releasing pent-up frustration.

“W-why is there no head...”

Certainly, I remember that the imapact form being hit by a truck caused my head to fly off and I died.

So, as a result did I become a being without a head?

If this is the result of some god or someone’s prank through a different world transfer, it’s nothing short of tasteless.

“Where did you put my head!?”

In response to my enraged shout, birds and animals flee in surprise.

Only the echo of my scream lingers in the surroundings, leaving behind a silence.

After screaming as loudly as I could and calming down a bit, I sat down right where I was.

I swing my arm as if searching around my face while looking at the water’s surface. However, my arm merely cuts through empty air.

I let out a sigh, turning my gaze away from the water’s surface.

Even when I touch under the armor that covers my body, there is no sensation of skin.

The armor itself feels like my own skin.

When I trace it with my finger, I can certainly feel it. That’s why I hadn’t noticed my current state until now.

A knight in full-body armor with a red mantle, but devoid of any human-like features such as skin or, most notably, a head...

“...Dullahan.”

A monster in the shape of a knight, often referred to as a headless knight.

A type of undead that rides a headless horse known as the Coach-a-Bower or Death Coach.

It’s said to be a harbinger of death, or an entity that reaps souls like a grim reaper.

It’s treated as a staple in games and fictional worlds and has gained considerable popularity among people.

I’m well-acquainted with it since I often play games. In fact, even people who don’t play games much would probably answer that a Dullahan is a creature resembling a headless knight.

Normally, they hold their heads under their arms or in their hands, but in my case, there’s nothing to be found.

For a Dullahan, their own head should be an important thing.

Could it be that it’s lying around where I was originally?

No, impossible. Before leaving that place, I made sure to thoroughly check my surroundings.

So, was my head missing from the start?

Being a Dullahan, it’s natural to be without a head, but was it absent from the beginning?

If so, I might be a different entity, not a Dullahan. At this point, it’s most likely that I am not a Dullahan, but I can’t think of any other entity that fits.

However, for the time being, my existence isn’t human...

“Perhaps I’m a monster...”

If my existence is that of a monster, it means that monsters exist in this place and this world.

In other words, a fantasy world.

If I had a normal human appearance, I would have been excited and happy.

Well, as a lone individual without any weapons, encountering a monster would most likely lead to my death.

I was headed for the village, but wouldn’t it have been bad if I had met humans like this?

What if one day, while walking in the forest, I encounter a Dullahan, a monster.

Monsters are incredibly ferocious creatures that attack people.

I would definitely run away. If I had companions, we’d team up and beat it down.

“Damn it, seriously dangerous!”

If I had recognized myself as a monster like that, it would have been too late and I would be subjugated.

I no longer have a human body, but I feel a chill run down my spine.

Yet, my body is strange.

Despite being without a head, in other words, without eyes, I can still see properly.

It’s bewildering, but complaining about the body of a monster won’t get me anywhere.

The existence of monsters itself is fantasy.

Thinking here won’t yield any answers, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

As far as my line of sight goes, it’s positioned somewhat where my chest is, but my height is considerably tall due to being large-bodied, almost the same as when I was human.

My height as a human was 175 centimeters.

And now, my line of sight is around where a human’s collarbone would be.

In other words, it means I’m 175 centimeters tall without a head.

Adding a little over the average size of a human face, it means I’m nearly two meters tall.

“Damnit, if I were a regular human, this would be a significant selling point! Why did I become a Dullahan? What a waste!”

Frustrated and disheartened, I clench my fist. If I were human, I might have been popular with women...!

Now, every time I do something, I wonder how I can move without muscles, but I suppress those thoughts.

Sitting still won’t get me anywhere. I don’t really understand what’s going on, and I’m confused, but I’ll try to think about what to do next.

So, what should I do from here?

Being an undead monster, I probably don’t need water or food. I don’t feel tired even though I’ve been walking for a long time. I probably don’t need sleep either.

As a wanderer in the forest, it’s quite convenient. I don’t have to desperately secure water or procure food. If this forest were exceptionally vast, I might need to consume insects and animals in addition to plants.

For someone who lived using the conveniences of modern Japan’s civilization, this is a tough situation.

While searching for food, there was even a possibility of encountering fierce monsters or animals and getting killed.

However, the price paid was losing my human traits.

I  don’t need food or alcohol at all. I can survive without eating.

Since I lack a mouth, teeth, or organs, I can’t even enjoy food even as a luxury.

“Ugh, I can’t even eat anymore...”

Saying that, I fall backward.

The sky is a clear blue with not a single cloud. Large birds fly gracefully through the sky.

“So peaceful...”

As I think that while lying on my back for a while, I hear rustling from the bushes behind me.

I wonder how I can hear despite not having ears, but there’s no use dwelling on the specifics of a monster’s body.

Now, I direct my attention to the source of the rustling.

Emerging from the bushes was a single wolf with gray fur.

“Gururu...”

They bare their sharp fangs and emit a ferocious growl.

Uh-oh. Aren’t these the kind of animals or monsters that attack people?

Why did they suddenly come over!?

...Could it be because of the loud scream I let out earlier?

...Most likely.

I reluctantly accept it. I hurriedly stand up, intending to escape to the nearby bushes, but...

Two wolves appeared, one from the left and one from the right, obstructing my path.

What cunning creatures! I’m cornered with the water behind me, and they’ve perfectly cut off my escape route.

I’ve heard that the outcome of a fight is often decided before it even starts, and that seems to be the exact case here.

These wolves are really smart. Seriously.

What should I do? There’s nowhere to run.

I’m in big trouble. Even if I manage to escape, I can’t outrun them, and I’m sure I’ll be bitten by those sharp fangs.

As I panick, the wolves advance, surrounding their prey.

And then they pounce simultaneously.

“Uwaahhh!?”

With no combat experience or weapons, as a last-ditch effort, I thrust my fist at the wolf leaping towards my chest.

My fist strikes the side of the wolf’s face with it’s wide-open mouth, and then... the wolf is blown away as if it were made of paper.

“Huh?”

In a daze, I let out a bewildered voice as something resembling the wolf’s fangs fly through the air.

The wolf’s face is horrifying, as if it has been struck from the side by a hammer.

Its legs twitch slightly, but it's unlikely to get back up.

As surprised as I am, a sensation of being trapped between something grips my left and right legs, snapping me back to reality.

“Ugh! My legs are being crushed... or not?”

The wolves were trying to bite and crush the bones in my legs, but their fangs hadn’t penetrated at all.

The wolves are still attempting to stab their teeth into my legs, gnawing and struggling.

There's a sensation of being caught, but no pain whatsoever.

That’s it! My current body isn’t human; I’m a Dullahan in full-body armor!

Dullahans are known for having high defense. It’s only natural that regular attacks won’t work.

Although my body is based on a human form, there are only a few places without armor.

Even if they attack there, it won’t amount to much. After all, I don’t have skin.

Dullahan bodies aren’t vulnerable to being pierced by wolf fangs!

I can’t believe it. I thought I was done for, about to be devoured by these wolves.

The powerful punch from earlier might have been a result of my status as a monster.

Or at least, I can’t think of any other explanation.

Let’s take it slow and make sure.

For now, though, these wolves biting my legs are quite annoying.

I could toss them into the lake, but it would be a problem if they came back with reinforcements.

They somewhat resemble dogs, so I hesitate, but I deliver powerful punches to the heads of each wolf.

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